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Computer Games Essay

This page analyzes a  computer games essay  and also notes how you can make good use of the question to plan and organize your essay.

You have to be careful with this essay as although you have to discuss the pros and cons of the issue, there is a second part to the question that is not about this.

Take a look at the IELTS task 2 question:

Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games. 

What are the positive and negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects?

The Topic and the Task

Remember to always analyze the question carefully. The topic should be fairly clear:

  • Computer games

Remember to also look carefully to see if the topic is being narrowed down to a particular aspect of the topic. In this case it is:

Children Computer Games Essay

Now you need to check what the task is. How many things do you have to write about?

Hopefully you realized there are three things that you can easily turn into brainstorming questions:

  • What are the positive impacts of computer games on children?
  • What are the negative impacts of computer games on children?
  • How can the negative impacts be minimized?

Your answers to these questions will form your computer games essay.

You do not have much time and you have three things to answer, so one or two ideas for each is enough, as remember you will need to explain your ideas and give examples.

Now, take a look at the model answer.

Computer Games Essay Question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Computer Games Essay Model Answer:

Access to computers has increased significantly over recent decades, and the number of children playing games on computers has increased too. This essay will consider the positive and negative impacts of this and discuss ways to avoid the potential negative effects.

With regards to the positive effects, playing computer games can develop children’s cognitive skills. Many popular games require abstract and high level thinking skills in order to win, skills that may not be taught at school. For example, children need to follow instructions, solve complex problems and use logic in many of the games that are currently popular. Such experience will be beneficial to a child’s progression into an adult.

However, concerns have been raised about the prolific use of computer games by children, much of this related to the violence they contain. The problem is that in many of the games children are rewarded for being more violent, and this violence is repeated again and again. For instance, many games involve children helping their character to kill, kick, stab and shoot. This may lead to increased aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behaviours.  

In order to minimize these negative impacts, parents need to take certain steps. Firstly, some video games are rated according to their content, so parents must check this and ensure their children are not allowed to have access to games that are unsuitable. Parents can also set limits on the length of time games are played. Finally, parents should also take an active interest in the games their children are playing so they can find out how they feel about what they are observing. 

To sum up, there are benefits of computer games, but there are disadvantages too. However, if parents take adequate precautions, the severity of these negative impacts can be avoided.

( 295 Words )

This computer games essay is well-organized and it directly answers the question, with each paragraph addressing one of the tasks.

Note how the topic sentences match the tasks (which have been taken from the prompt):

  • What are the positive impacts of computer games on children ?

With regards to the positive effects, playing computers games can develop children’s cognitive skills.

  • What are the negative impacts of computer games on children ?

However, concerns have been raised about the prolific use of computer games by children, much of this related to the violence they contain.

  • How can the negative impacts be minimized ?

In order to minimize these negative impacts, parents need to take certain steps.

This is why analyzing the question is so important. This provides you with the basic building blocks with which to write your essay.

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Essay on Computer Games

Students are often asked to write an essay on Computer Games in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Computer Games

What are computer games.

Computer games are interactive activities played using a computer. They are created by game developers who use different types of software. These games can be played alone or with others online. They come in many styles, like puzzles, adventures, or sports games.

Types of Computer Games

There are many types of computer games. Some are educational, helping you learn new things. Others are just for fun. Action games, strategy games, and simulation games are some types. Each game has its own unique story and challenges.

Benefits of Computer Games

Playing computer games can have benefits. They can improve hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Some games also help to learn new languages or facts. They can even help to make new friends when played online.

Drawbacks of Computer Games

Too much time playing games can be harmful. It can lead to less time for homework or physical activity. It’s important to balance game time with other activities. Parents should monitor their children’s gaming habits.

In conclusion, computer games can be fun and educational. They can help to develop skills and make learning enjoyable. But, they should be enjoyed responsibly. Too much gaming can lead to problems. It’s all about balance.

Also check:

  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Computer Games
  • Paragraph on Computer Games

250 Words Essay on Computer Games

Computer games are fun activities played on a computer. They are a popular form of entertainment that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. These games come in many different types, like action, adventure, puzzle, and sports games.

How do Computer Games Work?

A computer game works by following instructions given by the player through a keyboard, mouse, or game controller. The game responds to these instructions by showing changes on the computer screen. This could be a character moving, a puzzle being solved, or a ball being kicked.

Benefits of Playing Computer Games

Playing computer games can have many benefits. They can help improve skills like problem-solving and hand-eye coordination. Some games can also help in learning new things, like history or science. They can even help in making new friends when played online with others.

While computer games can be fun and beneficial, playing them too much can cause problems. Spending too much time playing games can lead to less time for studies, physical activities, and socializing. It’s important to balance game time with other activities.

Computer games are a fun and popular form of entertainment. They can help improve skills and can be a source of learning. But, it’s also important to remember not to spend too much time playing them and to balance game time with other activities.

500 Words Essay on Computer Games

Computer games are interactive entertainment where you control what happens on the screen. You can play them on many devices, like computers, consoles, or smartphones. They are designed to challenge and entertain you. You can play them alone or with friends.

There are many types of computer games. Some are called action games because they need fast reactions. Adventure games take you on a journey, and you must solve puzzles to move forward. There are also sports games where you can play football, basketball, or other sports. Strategy games make you think and plan your moves carefully. In simulation games, you can create your own world or drive a car or plane.

The Good Side of Computer Games

Computer games can be fun and exciting. They can help you relax after a hard day at school. They can also help you learn new things. For example, some games teach you about history or science. Others can help you improve your problem-solving skills or reaction time.

Playing games can also help you make friends. Many games let you play with people from all over the world. You can work together to win the game or compete against each other for fun.

The Bad Side of Computer Games

While computer games can be fun, they can also cause problems if you play too much. Spending too much time playing games can make you forget about other important things like homework, sports, or spending time with family and friends.

Also, some games can make you feel angry or upset if you lose. It’s important to remember that it’s just a game, and losing is part of playing.

How to Enjoy Computer Games Safely

To enjoy computer games safely, you should set a limit on how much time you spend playing. You should also take breaks to rest your eyes and stretch your body.

It’s also important to play games that are suitable for your age. Some games have violent or scary content that is not good for young players.

Remember, computer games are meant to be fun. If a game is making you feel upset or angry, it’s a good idea to stop playing and do something else for a while.

In conclusion, computer games can be a fun way to relax and learn new things. But it’s important to play them safely and not let them take over your life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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IELTS essay about the advantages and disadvantages of computer games

by Manjusha Nambiar · Published November 1, 2015 · Updated April 20, 2024

IELTS essay

Some people think that computer games are bad for children, while others believe that they are useful. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of computer games and give your own opinion.

Sample response

Computer games are addictive. That is the main reason children play them for hours on end. There are several disadvantages to spending a lot of time in front of the computer.

Computer games merely provide entertainment. Children who are addicted to computer games tend to have poor grades because they do not get enough time to focus on their studies. Also, they have reduced social skills. They are constantly glued to their screens and show hardly any interest in interacting with their family members or peers. This can lead to social isolation and serious behavioural problems.

Some popular computer games glorify violence and crime. Children who grow up playing these games may get into anti-social activities. Even if they don’t become criminals in the future, they may still exhibit a disregard for values. Computer games also cause vision problems in children. Children are not supposed to stare at the computer screen for hours on end. If they do, they will develop serious eye strain which may also affect their studies.

On the bright side, computer games make children competitive. Games that require them to play against virtual or real opponents living in another part of the world improve their concentration and ability to take decisions quickly. These are definitely positive aspects but a child does not have to play computer games to develop these skills.

To conclude, after analysing the advantages and disadvantages of playing computer games it is not hard to see that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. In my opinion, parents should restrict the amount of time their children spend in front of the computers. That said, there is no harm in playing a game or two every now and then, but addiction is definitely a problem.

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essay about playing computer games

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Essays About Video Games: Top 12 Examples and Prompts

Video games have revolutionized the way we have fun today. If you are writing essays about video games, check out our guide to inspire your writing.  

Few can contest the fact that video games have taken over the world. From the basic, almost “primitive” games of the 1970s like Pong to the mind-bending virtual reality games of the 2020s, they have been a source of entertainment for all. Moreover, they have proven quite profitable; countries like Japan and the United States have made tens of billions of dollars solely from the video game market.

Despite their popularity, much has been debated over the potentially harmful side effects that video games may have, particularly on children. One side argues that playing certain video games can lead to people exhibiting violence in the future, while others believe that video games teach players essential life skills. Regardless, they will continue to be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future. 

For engaging essays about video games, read the essay examples featured below for inspiration.

1. What electronic games can teach us by Kendall Powell

2. designers are imagining video games without guns by keith stuart, 3. playing video games all summer won’t make you feel worse by nicole wetsman, 4.  violent video games bad by andrea newman.

  • 5. ​​The health effects of too much gaming by Peter Grinspoon

Writing Prompts For Essays About Video Games

1. video games: good or bad, 2. the benefits of video games, 3. what is your favorite video game, 4. do video games cause people to become violent, 5. video games in your life, 6. video games vs. traditional games, 7. is the video game rating system enough.

“In other studies, researchers found that gamers who trained on Tetris were better at mentally rotating two-dimensional shapes than those who played a control game. Students who played two hours of All You Can E.T., an educational game designed to enhance the executive function of switching between tasks, improved their focus-shifting skills compared with students who played a word search game.”

Powell explains a few possibilities of applying video games to education. As it turns out, certain video games can improve players’ skills, depending on the mechanics. Researchers are inspired by this and hope to take advantage of the competitive, motivational nature of gaming to encourage children to learn. New games are designed to help kids improve their focus, coordination, and resilience, and game designers hope they will succeed. 

“Imagine a game where you’re a war reporter seeking to capture the most iconic, representative images in a battle environment: You’d still get the sense of peril that audiences expect from action adventures, but your relationship with the environment would be more profound. It would be Call of Duty from the perspective of a creative participant rather than a violent interloper.”

The graphic nature of some video games is said to make kids violent, so it is only natural that some creators try to change this. Stuart writes that it is possible to maintain the fun that shooter-type games induce without using guns. He gives examples of games where you do not kill your enemy, simply stunning or capturing them instead. He also suggests photography as an alternative to killing in a “shooting” game. Finally, he suggests basing video games around helping others, making friends, and doing more peaceful, creative tasks.

“Any role video games play in skewing well-being that did pop up in the study was too small to have a real-world impact on how people feel, the authors said. People would have to play games for 10 more hours per day than their baseline to notice changes in their well-being, the study found.”

Wetsman counters the widespread belief that video games “destroy your brain.” Research done with a sample of 39,000 players over six weeks has shown that whether one plays video games for long or short periods, their mental health is not impacted much. There are some exceptions; however, there are not enough to conclude that video games are, in fact, harmful.

“Some people believe that the connection between violent games, and real violence is also fairly intuitive. In playing the games kids are likely to become desensitized to gory images;which could make them less disturbing, and perhaps easier to deal with in real life. While video games aren’t about violence their capacity to teach can be a good thing.”

In her essay, Newman writes about the supposed promotion of violence in some video games. However, she believes this violence does not cause people to be more aggressive later. Instead, she believes these games expose children to certain atrocities so they will not be traumatized if they see them in real life. In addition, these games supposedly promote connections and friendships. Finally, Newman believes that these “harmful” can make you a better person.

5. ​​ The health effects of too much gaming by Peter Grinspoon

“Gamers need to be educated on how to protect their thumbs, wrists, and elbows, their waistlines, their emotional state, their sleep, and their eyes. Simple education around taking breaks, stretching, eating healthy snacks, and resting and icing your thumb, wrist, or elbow when it starts hurting can address injuries early, before they become significant. For the eyes, gamers can try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, try to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.”

Grinspoon discusses both the benefits and the health risks of gaming. Video games allow people to interact with each other remotely and bond over specific missions or tasks, and some research shows that they have cognitive benefits. However, some gamers may develop vision problems and hand and wrist injuries. Gaming and “staring in front of a screen the whole day” is also associated with obesity. Overall, Grinspoon believes that gaming is best done in moderation.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about hobbies .

Many parents believe that their children’s “bad behavior” is because of video games. Based on your experience and others, decide: are video games good or bad for you? Make sure to read viewpoints from both sides and write an essay based on your position. Would you encourage others to play video games? Discuss these pros and cons for an interesting argumentative essay.

Like anything else, video games have both positive and negative aspects. Explain the good that video games can do for you: the skills they can equip you with, the lessons they can teach, and anything else. Also, include whether you believe their benefits outweigh the disadvantages they may pose. 

For your essay, write about your favorite video game and why you chose it. What is its meaning to you, and how has it affected your life? Describe the gameplay mechanics, characters, storyline, and general impact on the gaming community or society. You can write about any game you want, even if you have not played it; just ensure the content is sufficient.

Many claim that playing violent video games can make you violent in the future. Research this phenomenon and conclude whether it is true or not. Is the evidence sufficient? There are many resources on this topic; support your argument by citing credible sources, such as news articles, statistics, and scientific research.

Video games have been a part of almost all our lives. Recall a treasured experience with video games and explain why it is significant. How old were you? Why do you remember it fondly? How did this experience make you feel? Answer these questions in your own words for an exciting essay.

Essays About Video Games: Video games vs. Traditional games

There are stark differences between video and traditional games, such as board games and card games. For an engaging essay, compare and contrast them and write about which is more entertaining, in your opinion. Be creative; this should be based on your own opinions and ideas.

The video game content rating system is used to classify video games based on their appropriateness for specific ages. However, parents complain that they are not strict enough and allow the display of violent content to children. Explore the criteria behind the rating system, decide whether it needs to be changed or not, and give examples to support your argument.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

essay about playing computer games

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Ryan Anderson Ph.D.

7 Reasons to Play Computer Games

Playing computer games can be good for you in a number of ways..

Posted March 21, 2016 | Reviewed by Matt Huston

fancycrave1/Pixabay

Be honest, you want to be smarter. There’s nothing wrong with that. Studies consistently demonstrate that intelligence is among the most desirable qualities a person has. Whether it's trying to survive an intensive college schedule, appreciate the finer points of Machiavellianism , or impress friends with an accomplished understanding of string theory, we all have our reasons.

A lot of people agree with the idea that learning should be fun. It’s a bit surprising, but in some ways, computer games can teach valuable lessons and may even help improve your mental faculties. Here's what you should consider.

1. Failure is key to success.

Ask pretty much anyone who has ever had any success in anything if they have ever failed. You will invariably get a resounding “Yes!” because everyone has failed at something. Most people probably know about Thomas Edison and his spectacular failure rate (or his successful ruling out of thousands of possible solutions, if you’re a glass-half-full kind of person), but here are a few other examples:

  • J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers
  • Einstein didn’t speak until he was 4 and didn’t read until he was 7
  • Van Gogh only sold 1 painting in his lifetime
  • Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

Failure is important.

In many video games, you start out with more than one ‘life’. Straight away this tells you that failure is OK. A lot of the play consists of failing to reach a goal. This encourages persistence and grit: the ability to stick with a problem and see it through without getting demoralized and giving up. This is a really important life skill.

2. Computer games may increase your problem-solving skills.

Consider some advice from Jane McGonigal (designer of alternate reality games, Ph.D. in performance studies): she suggests that if you want to have fun and stimulate your mind, playing about three times a week for just 20 minutes each time should do it.

Just about all of the most popular video games have some requirement for problem-solving and/or critical thinking. This promotes adaptability and cognitive flexibility. These are really important skills to have in any kind of problem-solving task.

3. Gaming keeps your mind active.

It’s unfortunate but inevitable: as we go through life we succumb to both physical and mental decline. Going to the gym or having frequent sex will help to prevent (or at least slow down) the physical losses. To stave off mental decay one must maintain an active brain. Doing crosswords, Sudoku, playing brain games or video games (as long as they’re not entirely mindless) might all help to curb the loss.

While there is no definitive study involving video games and aging, research suggests that seniors who stay mentally active are about 2.6 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia . Additionally, a number of studies have suggested that playing video games can help to improve memory (and mood). Clearly the message here is to give both your grandparents and great grandparents Xboxes this Christmas.

4. Gamers are better at visual tasks.

Studies have indicated that compared to non-gamers, experienced gamers are better at: tracking objects; keeping track of several objects simultaneously; filtering out irrelevant information; switching from task to task; detecting changes in visual layouts; and 3D mental rotation.

A recent study conducted by researchers at Brown University found that video game practice was associated with improved visual learning. At least one experiment has found evidence that playing video games can improve the mental rotation abilities of non-gamers.

5. Gaming may increase processing speed.

Being able to process information rapidly is critical in many situations. Motorists, for example, are presented with a lot of information (some of it constantly changing) and asked to make rapid and accurate decisions that can have dramatic implications. In decision making , however, speed is typically sacrificed for accuracy or vice versa. To put it simply, fast decisions often lead to mistakes.

essay about playing computer games

Computer games often require rapid processing of sensory information and prompt action. Indecision or delays in response are penalized. Players are therefore highly motivated to reduce their reaction time (RT).

A few studies have found that gamers have better RTs than non-gamers. This is hardly surprising, but what may be is that this speed generalizes to various tasks (not just the specific game), and that the increased speed does not lead to a decline in accuracy. So basically, gamers process and respond faster, but they don’t lose any accuracy when doing so. Some of these studies have indicated causality by showing that RTs can be trained by game-play!

6. Gamers may have enhanced memory.

A team of neurobiologists from the University of California has found evidence that playing 3D computer games can boost memory power.

They got a group of people to play 2D games half an hour a day for two weeks, and another group to play 3D games half an hour a day for two weeks. Everyone was given a memory test before and after the two weeks. The 2D group didn’t really improve at all, but the 3D group improved by 12%.

7. Playing computer games may improve your ability to multitask.

There is significant evidence that, as Daphne Bevelier (a professor of brain and cognitive sciences who has conducted 20+ studies on playing action video games) put it, “action video games are far from mindless." Her studies suggest that gamers have improved skills in attention , cognition , vision, and multitasking.

In non-gamers, reaction times increased by about 30% when they switched from a single task to more than one task. Gamers still had an increase, but it was only by about 10%.

A study appearing in Nature in 2013 found that just playing a basic 3D racing game for a total of 12 hours over a period of four weeks appeared to improve multitasking performance for up to six months. Improvements were seen in 20-70 year-olds but surprisingly, the trained 60+ year-olds outperformed 20-year-olds who hadn’t played the game. Various other cognitive abilities (sustained attention, working memory, etc.) also improved among older subjects.

To sum this article up in a single phrase: play 3D video games (in moderation), especially if you are over 50.

Ryan Anderson Ph.D.

Ryan Anderson, Ph.D., is a psychologist currently working as a Teaching Associate at Monash University.

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At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that threatens to derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.

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Video Games and Their Impact on Teens’ Mental Health

  • First Online: 02 March 2018

Cite this chapter

essay about playing computer games

  • Melissa E. DeRosier Ph.D. 3 &
  • James M. Thomas Ph.D. 3  

3 Citations

The role that video games play in the lives of teenagers has grown dramatically and without pause for the past generation or two. Between computers, smart phones, and dedicated game consoles, not only are individual adolescents spending more of their days playing video games, but the percentage of teens whose daily lives include video games is quickly approaching universality. In this chapter, we first review recent trends in video gaming and explore the various and myriad video games that teens tend to play as well as their motivations to play video games. Then, we review the literature regarding the influence of playing different types of commercial video games on mental health. And last, we explore recent innovations in game development whereby video games are specifically developed to improve mental health symptoms or psychosocial adjustment, including a review of the research supporting use of these “impactful video games.” It is hoped that the information presented in this chapter will provide practitioners with greater understanding of the diversity and breadth of experiences that fall under the umbrella term “video gaming” in order to help foster more open and productive conversations with teens about their video gaming behavior. We also hope the research evidence presented in this chapter will encourage practitioners to integrate the use of video games into their treatment of teen patients, both as a means of fostering the therapeutic alliance and as an innovative accompaniment to traditional therapeutic methods to enhance teens’ mental and behavioral health.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank their three sons—Jefferson Thomas, Benjamin Thomas, and Lincoln Thomas—who provided considerable input (and fact-checking) for this chapter regarding popular commercial video games, video game genres, and video gaming experiences. Their feedback and sharing were integral in helping the authors conceptualize teens’ gameplay experiences when writing the first section of this chapter. The authors would also like to thank Mary Whatley who aided considerably in conducting a literature search and compiling the citations included in this chapter.

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DeRosier, M.E., Thomas, J.M. (2018). Video Games and Their Impact on Teens’ Mental Health. In: Moreno, M., Radovic, A. (eds) Technology and Adolescent Mental Health . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69638-6_17

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Ielts essay # 1222 - negative impacts of children playing computer games, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games., what are the negative impacts of children playing computer games what can be done to minimize the bad effects of children playing computer games.

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Effects of Video Games Essay

Introduction, school performance, effects on social relationships.

The society has been immensely influenced by the technological changes, which are reshaping some of the activities. The emerging technologies in one way or another have affected every member of society, irrespective of age.

Video Games have had the greatest influence on the lives of children. Children no longer appreciate the outdoor games as was before, as most of their time is spend indoors playing video games.

Although this trend may have a positive impact on the lives of the concerned children as far as their knowledge of computer is concerned, there are various negative impacts.

Various educationists have confirmed that outdoor plays are very important to the development and growth of children.

It helps them develop socially as they meet with their friends and learn to share discussions, get involved in physical activities and develop physically through such games. The paper talks about some of the negative effects of computer games (Finkel, 1995).

It is established through research that computer games do not help children grow academically. In fact, computer games contribute to inactivity of body cells, which might lead to oversight hence causing diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Moreover, indoor games contribute to poor academic performance among students because most of the time is spend on useless games that do not offer any academic lessons.

Lastly, computer games lead to the development of antisocial behavior whereby a student is not interested in interacting with his or her peers.

Available literature shows that more children are growing obese owing to the fact that they spend little time exercising and engage frequently with the computer.

Research shows that children who take part in physical exercises are more healthy, intelligent, and active in class. The study conducted by American Heart Association proved that children are contracting heart diseases mainly because of lack of physical activity.

The research indicated that the number of obese children increased by four percent in 1974. Those affected were children aged six to eleven years.

However, the percentage increase could not be compared with the study conducted in 2006 whereby the increase rate was seventeen percent. As from 1971 to 2006, the number of adolescents thought to be obese increased from 6.1 percent to 17.6 percent.

The percentage increase was shocking. Furthermore, the increase was attributed to lack of physical activity and video games (Wiegman, & van Schie, 1998).

Overweight is a costly condition that leads to a number of illnesses among school going children. According to experts at the University of Michigan, obese children have higher risks of contracting diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, and high blood pressure.

Other illnesses associated with overweight include high cholesterol levels in the body, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal malfunctions, early adolescence, and finally mental problems.

Studies show that obese children tend to have a low sense of worth and despair.

As AHA records show, obese children are likely to be obese when they attain the adulthood age. This would even cause more problems because they would be exposed to a number of diseases.

A study conducted by Media Literacy Clearinghouse indicated that children had developed a habit towards computer games. Video games had gained relevance among children aged eight and eighteen years to an extent that the rate at which children played computer games rose from an average of 26 minutes in 1999 to 73 minutes in 2009.

Generally, the rate at which children interacted with the computer daily rose from six hours in 1999 to seven hours in 2009. A report compiled in 2004 at the University Hospital of Zurich revealed that a strong link between obesity and video games exist.

It can be concluded that video games do not help children in any way but instead it affects their health. Video games interfere with the children’s eating habits because such children would tend to consume food with high calories.

In this regard, parents need to monitor the behavior of their children as regards to physical fitness.

In the United States, a study conducted to ascertain the effects of computer games on the performance of students proved that PlayStations and other video games such as Xbox Video affects the concentration of children in class.

Furthermore, the study revealed that children who are like using playing video games could not compete favorably with those who prefer physical games. One of the researchers was quoted saying that the performance of students who engage in physical exercises will always improve with time.

Boys are affected more by the new trend since they would rarely improve in class. Their performance would always remain stagnant for a period.

Moreover, boys cannot develop skills that would help them to read and write well in case they are allowed to interact with the computer frequently (Sakurai, 1984).

It should be noted that video games might not necessarily cause poor performance among school going children but the time spent in watching the games or playing them would consume the time that a student would be expected to read, do some homework, and write a good composition.

Definitely, a student would register a poor grade in case he or she does not engage in a serious research. Video games have a tendency of instilling negative reading attitudes to students. This is because a student would find reading a storybook or solving a mathematics problem boring.

Video games are very fast and demand a higher concentration unlike other academic activities that need time for conceptualization. In a joint study conducted in Australia, researchers concluded that video games affect the performance of students in many ways.

Students who spend time playing video games would always perform dismally in class. In fact, the study revealed that computer games do not help children perform well in any of the subjects. This is because students who spend time watching and playing computer games would always score low in each subject.

This research contradicts some of the assumptions that computer games help children to perform well in some subjects. The Australian study revealed that there is no single positive correlation between academic performance and computer games.

Video games are known to influence the cognitive and educational dexterities of children. Moreover, the games can as well as define the children’s social relationships. In a traditional setting, the relationship between the child and the parent or other senior members of society is clearly defined.

The video games have changed meaning that social relations are no longer the same. Studies indicate that video games, especially those that are violent, reshape the behavior of children. Moreover, video games could contain some sort of competition and aggression, which affect the reasoning of children.

In the current society, the rate at which conflicts occur in society has increased. Youths are currently violent because of the new games. The main objective of video games, according to Nintendo and Sega Genesis Center, is violence.

Any game played by children via the computer does not have anything new other than violent content. The companies specializing in selling computer games would convince parents that the games are non-violent but in the real sense, they are not.

A study conducted in 1998 confirmed that many children, over 80%, were familiar to a violent game referred to as Duke Nukem. Unfortunately, only 5% of parents were aware of the game meaning that children are access even those games that are supposed to be accessed by only the adults.

This trend affects the social life of children. In 1999, students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado engaged in a destructive demonstration mainly because of the influence of computer games.

Students shot at their fellow teens and other people because they experienced it through video games. Such kind of behavior is destructive because it could lead to social anomy (Griffith, 1999).

Studies across the world indicate that violent video games increase an individual’s hostility and aggression. Aggressive games would lead to a habit whereby students prefer to play the games rather than engage in physical exercises.

This is even related to overweight. Children who are used to video games tend to be indifferent and unresponsive to the sufferings of other children. They would easily bully their fellow students without mercy.

Finkel, S. (1995). Causal analysis with panel data. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Griffith, M. (1999). Violent video games and aggression: A review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior , 4(2), 203-212.

Sakurai, S. (1984). Construction of the Social Desirability Scale for Children. Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology , 32(2), 310-314.

Wiegman, O., & van Schie, E. (1998). Video game playing and its relations with aggressive and pro-social behavior. British Journal of Social Psychology , 37(2), 367- 378.

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Persuasive Essay: Video Games

Teenagers today often spend a great deal of time playing video games. These games are fun and engaging and young people often feel like playing games is a great thing to do in their spare time. However, you shouldn’t spend too much time gaming and there are a number of reasons for this: it’s unhealthy, you should spend more time studying, and you need to socialize more.

The primary reason to cut down on gaming time has to be that youths that spend a long time on computers and games consoles are often not getting enough exercise. With high obesity rates, it’s very important for young people to spend as much time being active as possible, especially since studies show that people who are overweight during childhood and adolescence are far more likely to become overweight adults than those of a healthy weight when they’re young. There is just as much, if not more, fun to be had in getting out and about and being active. This doesn’t have to mean going for long runs if that’s not your thing; team sports are both fun and great exercise. Dance or fitness classes are also a good option for those not into sports.

Secondly, getting a good education is that best thing that you can do for your future. If every teenager cut down on their gaming time by 30 minutes per day and used this time to study, the whole of that generation would achieve better results and be more likely to have the career that they want. With education, you get out what you put in, so it’s really up to you to put in the additional effort. If you want to go to a good college, extra study in your own time will be completely vital, but gaming can reduce your concentration span and make this more difficult.

The third main reason that playing video games too often is that it’s no good for your social skills. Some teenagers may argue that because they can now play their games online with friends, they are socializing in their own way. However, you can’t beat face-to-face contact, and if you want to succeed in interviews and build good relationships in later life, you need to develop some proper communication skills. This shouldn’t be a chore, or difficult, because hanging out with friends is far more fun than sitting indoors playing on games all day anyway!

In conclusion, there can be no doubt that spending too much time gaming isn’t good for you. You don’t have to stop all together, but it’s all about moderation. Cut down and allocate your additional free time to doing things that are good for you, and you definitely won’t regret it in later life.

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How to Write an Essay about Video Games: Presenting Effective Arguments in Papers

essay about playing computer games

Gaming on video consoles is becoming more and more common. In actuality, the typical gamer plays for roughly six hours each week. There are many who claim that video games are harmful to one’s health since they promote inactive lifestyles like prolonged sitting and isolation from the outside world. On the other hand, some people say that playing video games is a good way to unwind and relax, and they are not wrong. So, what is the real story of video games? Are they good or bad? The controversy of playing video games presents an opportunity for students to either be proponents or antagonists of the issue through essays. Accordingly, this article discusses how a learner can write an essay about video games.

It would be best to do thorough research before writing an essay about video games

Research is often the most challenging aspect of preparing an essay. While writing your video games essay, you’ll have to employ the information you get from research to define video games, describe different genres, and give relevant examples to support your claims. Students must recognize that the amount of research they conduct totally affects how good their essays turn out. Your video game essay will benefit greatly from your careful attention to detail and thorough investigation. Just keep in mind that you are trying to convince your audience to see things from your point of view. This is why having a great deal of background information is essential. Researching your favorite video game would give you an added advantage. Additionally, to support your claims, you must include relevant examples and research-based data.

You should develop an introduction that captures your reader’s interest

The whole point of the opening paragraph is to capture the interest of the audience. To achieve this, it should pose an intriguing topic or provide a contradiction or paradox. You ought to add a good hook to grab the reader’s attention so they can’t help but keep reading your paper. Given that there are numerous motivations for why individuals engage in video games, the introduction is where you have to specify the reasons. Moreover, it would be best to incorporate your thesis statement in the introduction. A thesis statement is basically the writer’s primary concept, summed up in one or a few sentences. A well-formulated thesis statement expresses the work’s central argument in a way that makes sense in light of the inquiry or issue at hand. It would be the correct response to the question, “What is the primary theme of this essay?” from the instructor. Nonetheless, you should perceive your thesis as an opinion that may be debated at any time, rather than an established fact or objective reality. In other words, now is the time to speak your mind regarding the impact of video games on today’s youth.

You must present your arguments in the body paragraphs

The arguments are what learners utilize to support their thesis. A single contention and one or two examples must each have their own paragraph. It would be best to provide your reasoning for your video game position and be sure to explain why you firmly disagree with the opposing viewpoint. Examples include your own experiences and, where appropriate, references to data from studies, forecasts, and statistics. Students should provide answers to contentious topics like “Do video games promote addiction and violence among players?” The arguments you employ ought to back your main point rather than contradict it.

You may offer vivid illustrations as you write an argumentative essay about video games

Learners should offer evocative examples of the genres and video games under consideration. Instead of stressing about whether the material you discover online or the game’s publishers are legit, dedicate yourself to writing a fun and vibrant paper for the person who reads it. This approach piques the audience’s attention and facilitates their comprehension of the argumentative essay about video games. Additionally, these vivid examples assist you in conveying your ideas in a manner that words can’t. Even if you aren’t convinced that your assignment requires an example, using one might perk up your reader and provide your arguments additional weight.

You should write a conclusion for your essay

The last section is meant to sum up the college essay. You may accomplish this by restating the thesis statement and briefly mentioning the arguments you presented in your body paragraphs. This approach will help the audience understand how you systematically addressed the issue and made conclusions. For instance, suppose you had to respond to the question, “Do games negatively affect us?” A topic like that can’t be satisfactorily answered by psychology, particularly when it involves something as novel as video games. Consequently, it is actually way easier to just pick a side and support your position with some research. In the end, your readers don’t expect the argument to be elaborated upon but rather summarized. No new material should be introduced in the last paragraph.

Identifying the sources you employed would be best

When you are writing an essay about video games, it is essential to cite your sources. That means you got to make a list of every resource you used in your paper. References to diverse books, scientific studies, statistical data, and remarks made by well-known experts are acceptable. It would help to make sure your research is from the past five years.

Proofreading is vital for developing a top-notch paper

Students must make sure that their essays about video games have been edited and proofread prior to submission. So basically, you are going to check your assignment for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes. Completing an essay that is free of errors increases a learner’s likelihood of academic success. Here are some tips to help you proofread your work:

  • Read the text aloud. This will enable you to detect any mistakes.
  • Take your time proofreading and revising your work. Spend sufficient time on it to ensure you catch any possible oversights.
  • Concentrate on correcting a single mistake at a time. Avoid the hassle of searching for spelling and grammar mistakes at the same time. Prior to checking for punctuation and spelling problems, you may concentrate on grammatical issues.
  • You may also create a list of the most typical errors that students make while writing essays, then review your work for each one.

Using these suggestions will guarantee that your essay is devoid of all types of mistakes that might undermine how persuasive your argument is. Alternatively, you can delegate your “ write my essay ” request to online essay writing services like CustomWritings which may allow you to complete a high-quality paper about video games.

Extra tips for presenting better arguments in essays about video games

Today’s youth often engage in video gaming, and this trend will only spread in the coming years. Composing a paper about video games can help you learn more about the subject while also providing readers with information they can utilize in their lives. Just consider the potential for them to be inspired by and gain new knowledge from your essay about video games. Following this article’s recommendations should take you a step closer to achieving your academic goals.

Nick Sinclair

Nick Sinclair, a gaming aficionado since the Commodore 64 era, studied Creative Computer Games Design in university before founding his own gaming company. Discovering a passion for content creation, Nick now helps gamers squeeze every drop of fun out of their favorite gaming hardware

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ScienceDaily

Gaming vs. reading: Do they benefit teenagers with cognition or school performance?

Children have an increasing attraction towards electronic media in their play. With video games, phones and the internet in abundance, this article in Educational Psychology examines if such leisure activity is impacting children's cognition or academic performance or whether it would be more beneficial to read.

After a busy day children do need downtime to rest and relax. Increasingly kids leisure time is spent gaming, but does it detract from homework or would kids be better off reading a book? Historical research shows in some cases that interactive gaming can have positive effects for cognition by promoting memory, attention and reasoning. Other speed oriented games have been shown to improve perception and motor skills, so should gaming for relaxation be encouraged? Lieury et al investigate whether type of leisure activity produces a 'transfer effect' influencing learning processes thus improving student performance at school. With an emphasis on gaming and reading they linked patterns of leisure activity with performance in phonology, reading and comprehension, maths, long term memory and reasoning. Fascinatingly gaming previously thought to improve fluid intelligence showed little or no positive correlations to performance whilst reading did, particularly in memory and comprehension. It seems then despite lack of a causal link that reading may be more likely to enhance academic performance.

Should we assume that time spent gaming and away from homework is harmful to students? A further comparison of reading and gaming to most frequent leisure activities showed no negative patterns but interestingly resting had a favourable effect on performance as well as reading. So frequent leisure activity is not necessarily harmful to progress, or always at the expense of homework but can be enriching. The authors conclude "we think that video games are mainly recreational activities and the cognitive stimulation provided is very different from school learning. On the contrary, the results of this survey fully justify the educational role of parents and teachers in promoting reading."

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Journal Reference :

  • Alain Lieury, Sonia Lorant, Bruno Trosseille, Françoise Champault, Ronan Vourc’h. Video games vs. reading and school/cognitive performances: a study on 27000 middle school teenagers . Educational Psychology , 2014; 1 DOI: 10.1080/01443410.2014.923556

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Violence in Video Games — Advantages And Disadvantages Of Video Games Essay

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Video Games

  • Categories: Video Games Violence in Video Games

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Words: 1148 |

Published: Feb 9, 2022

Words: 1148 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, video games: advantages and disadvantages, works cited.

  • Bavelier, D., Green, C. S., & Seitz, A. R. (2013). Learning through action video games. Nature, 12, 135-138.
  • Chang, Y. C., & Huang, Y. M. (2015). Learning by playing: A cross-sectional descriptive study of nursing students’ knowledge acquisition in digital and non-digital games. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 18(1), 128-140.
  • Ferguson, C. J. (2015). Do angry birds make for angry children? A meta-analysis of video game influences on children's and adolescents' aggression, mental health, prosocial behavior, and academic performance. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(5), 646-666.
  • Gentile, D. A., Anderson, C. A., Yukawa, S., Ihori, N., Saleem, M., Ming, L. K., . . . Sakamoto, A. (2009). The effects of prosocial video games on prosocial behaviors: International evidence from correlational, longitudinal, and experimental studies. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35(6), 752-763.
  • Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2014). The benefits of playing video games. American Psychologist, 69(1), 66-78.
  • Hilgard, J., Engelhardt, C. R., & Rouder, J. N. (2017). Overstated evidence for short-term effects of violent games on affect and behavior: A reanalysis of Anderson et al. (2010). Psychological Bulletin, 143(7), 757-774.
  • McGonigal, J. (2011). Reality is broken: Why games make us better and how they can change the world. Penguin.
  • Russoniello, C. V., O’Brien, K., & Parks, J. M. (2009). The effectiveness of casual video games in improving mood and decreasing stress. Journal of Cybertherapy and Rehabilitation, 2(1), 53-66.
  • Subramanian, V. (2018). Digital game-based learning: A review of the effectiveness of educational games. In T. Reiners, & L. C. Wood (Eds.), Gamification in education and business (pp. 43-73). Springer International Publishing.
  • Vandewater, E. A., Shim, M. S., & Caplovitz, A. G. (2004). Linking obesity and activity level with children's television and video game use. Journal of Adolescent, 27(1), 71-85.

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essay about playing computer games

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IELTS WRITING TASK 2: Computer games

May 26, 2021 | IELTS , IELTS Test , IELTS Vocabulary , IELTS Writing

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of IELTS Reading Tips by Andrew Turner at English With An Expert

Below is a model answer for a Task 2 double question type essay. With this type of question, you need to take care to answer the question asked – and ensure that if the question includes a plural, you answer in the plural.

This model essay follows the following template:

  Introduction : with the position

1st Body Paragraph : the reasons gaming is popular

2nd Body Paragraph : why this is a good thing

Conclusion : repeating the position and main ideas 

The Question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many people spend a large amount of their free time playing computer games.

What might be the reasons for this?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

IELTS Writing General Task 2 Model Answer - Computer Games by Andrew Turner @ EnglishWithAnExpert.com

Video games, both those played on consoles at home and those on mobile devices on the go, are, for many, a welcome diversion from the pressures of daily life. Video games can give enthusiasts an outlet for creativity, a social environment in which to meet new people, and a platform on which to develop new skills. This is, therefore, often time well spent.

It is unsurprising that more people are spending their leisure time playing games; after all, the events of 2020 have kept most of the world’s population confined to their homes. Console, tablet and phone gaming are some of the few pastimes left available to us, keeping many people occupied during undeniably tough times. This is a continuation of a trend that began long before the pandemic; games console sales have been on the rise for years, with Sony’s PlayStation consistently among the most popular. 

Research suggests that this is good since playing video games – particularly certain types – may play a significant role in cognitive development. Outdated studies which linked gaming with decreased physical activity and other pejorative outcomes failed to make an important distinction: that between different genres. A first-person shooter, for example, may not deliver noticeable benefits to the player – although, for some, such games may improve their reaction times. Games centred around puzzles and problem solving, however, can substantially improve mental dexterity and acuity. 

To conclude, the trend towards spending more time playing video games is a positive development, giving otherwise unoccupied and isolated players a way to think laterally, make friends and devote energy to learning new things. These are positive outcomes, showing that the increasing amount of time people spend playing video games is undoubtedly a good thing. 

Why not answer this question and receive professional feedback from an IELTS professional. Purchase a  writing correction package here.

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essay about playing computer games

Essay on Games

Games are an essential part of everyone’s childhood. Games are a fun way to keep kids entertained. They provide an interactive and engaging way to learn something new while considering themselves and others. They give children a break from daily study routines. Playing games improves kids’ immunity and helps them stay strong. BYJU’S essay on games allows the little ones to understand the difference between indoor and outdoor games and the importance of playing games.

Essay on Games

Table of Contents

Indoor games, outdoor games, importance of playing games.

The essay on games is an article that explains why playing indoor games is vital for the development of kids in their early years. Indoor games are essential for kids who spend a lot of time indoors. There are many benefits to playing these games, like improving a child’s vision and developing memory skills. These skills help them in academics. While playing indoor games, kids can have a friendly competition.

The importance of indoor games is something that many people have probably not thought about. Indoor games can teach children how to move a coin, improve coordination, and use their imaginations. Examples of indoor games are carrom board, table tennis, chess, scrabble, charades, paper games, ludo, etc.

Outdoor games are essential to children’s health and development. Children who play outdoors experience nature, which is good for their physical, social, and mental health. Outdoor games are a fun way to get out of the house, meet new people, and take an opportunity to bond with new friends.

The little ones need to engage in physical activities to stay healthy. They help children develop problem-solving, teamwork, communication, cooperation, flexibility, and physical activity skills. Outdoor activities can be more beneficial than indoor activities because they provide more exposure to sunlight. Examples of outdoor games are kabaddi, cricket, football, kho kho , etc.

Playing games is an excellent way for kids to learn about the world and make new friends. Games improve kids’ learning experience and interest in studies, which helps them score better grades. Experts say playing games has cognitive benefits and can help increase social skills.

When playing games, kids’ brains grow stronger and wiser. Games teach children how to interact with others and think strategically while they are still young and learning new things. They also provide a safe place for kids to learn and explore without fear of judgement. You can also use games to teach your child how to communicate using a game board or cards.

To conclude, games are an essential part of early childhood, and an essay on games helps children understand the value of playing games. When kids soak in the sun while playing, they become strong, improving their vitamin D levels. In addition, playing games keep the kids engaged and entertained. For more kid-friendly activities, stories , GK questions and other games visit, BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Essay on Games

What are the benefits of playing indoor games.

Indoor games provide kids with a way to exercise their minds while playing. Solving puzzles or educational games help children learn new skills, strengthen maths skills and improve memory. Research is also being conducted to see how playing indoor board games can improve children’s literacy skills.

Why are outdoor games important for children?

Parents should encourage their children to participate in outdoor games to teach them the importance of teamwork and cooperation. Games like kabaddi, cricket, and hockey are fun ways for children to stay active during the summer. They also help children build their physical strength.

Why is BYJU’S essay on games vital for kids?

BYJU’S essay on games is essential for children because it explains the significance of playing and how games allow them to release stress, have fun, and learn valuable skills.

essay about playing computer games

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The Sunday Papers

Sundays are a day that arrives at the end of the week. Sometimes those weeks bring joy, and sometimes they bring uncertainity. That's fine. There's another one tommorow. Before that new week begins, let’s read this week’s best writing about games (and game related things!)

For Jacobin, Cody Cava expanded on the wonderfully punchy title "Video Game Execs Are Ruining Video Games"

Despite the industry being immensely profitable, video game executives have lost any compunction when it comes to imposing astounding layoffs on their workforces, wielding tens of thousands of firings as a blunt instrument to appease shareholders and boost short-term profits. The mere announcement of mass layoffs can cause a significant jump in a company’s share prices, creating the perverse incentive to fire as many people as possible. Tech companies often lay people off not because they are losing money but because they are simply growing at a slower rate than before. In 2019, Activision Blizzard fired eight hundred people after posting “record-setting” revenue. Microsoft, the world’s most valuable company, fired ten thousand in 2023 even though the company was still profitable and growing, just not as fast as the shareholders wanted.
The complete destruction of Google Search via forced AI adoption and the carnage it is wreaking on the internet is deeply depressing, but there are bright spots. For example, as the prophecy foretold, we are learning exactly what Google is paying Reddit $60 million annually for. And that is to confidently serve its customers ideas like, to make cheese stick on a pizza, “you can also add about 1/8 cup of non-toxic glue” to pizza sauce, which comes directly from the mind of a Reddit user who calls themselves “Fucksmith” and posted about putting glue on pizza 11 years ago.
At the time, I was frustrated by Indie Game: The Movie’s casting. The filmmakers chose to focus on stars in the making whose success was either already established or seemed guaranteed, whatever the drama that might surround it. What about the majority who don’t sell a million copies, or bag the promotional deal with Microsoft, or pay off their parents’ mortgage? That’s still a serious omission in the film’s portraiture, although it’s given a strange, poignant twist when you consider what happened to these four men next.

Music this week is Tiresome by Drug Church. Have a great weekend.

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With a new edition on the way, the current version of life-devouring fantasy board game Talisman goes free to play

There goes another night.

Heroes race up a spiral staircase to claim a crown from a red dragon

Talisman is a powerfully silly fantasy board game originally published by Games Workshop in 1983—its original inspiration was a game about teachers competing to become school principal—which has gone through several editions and publishers over the years. The fourth edition by Black Industries, later revised and reprinted by Fantasy Flight Games, was also translated into Talisman: Digital Edition by Nomad Games and released on PC in 2014. In the decade since then it's received multiple expansions, but as of now the base game is available for free on Steam and GOG .

This follows shortly after the announcement of Talisman fifth edition , coming in July from Hasbro's board game imprint Avalon Hill, which it turns out is also being translated into digital form by Nomad Games as Talisman: Digital Fifth Edition . While the current version will carry on as a free-to-play game, the next edition will be paid and will feature "streamlined rules, and a sleek, modern design."

Streamlined rules are something I suspect every edition of Talisman has promised, as the original versions were infamously weekend-eaters. It's an old school roll-and-move board game where players roam the outer ring of the board until they gain access to the inner circles, before finally making it to the center to win the Crown of Command. There's a lot of randomness involved, with a high likelihood that someone will get robbed by bandits and lose all their gold or get cursed by a witch and turned into a toad at some point.

I played the second edition years ago and, despite playing for an entire Saturday, we didn't make it to the end. Trying the fourth edition much later, we did actually make it to the finale over the course of a long evening, though we were all worn out and eager to wrap it up by then. It seems like the fifth edition's streamlining includes a climax in which a player merely has to make it to the center of the board and defeat an elder dragon to win, rather than faffing about using the Crown of Command to psychically murder the other players one by one, as was the case previously.

The digital versions have the advantage of not taking up your dinner table with a physical board you need to leave set up for hours or even days at a time, as well as solo play against the AI, which will return in fifth edition along with local and online multiplayer.

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Jody's first computer was a Commodore 64, so he remembers having to use a code wheel to play Pool of Radiance. A former music journalist who interviewed everyone from Giorgio Moroder to Trent Reznor, Jody also co-hosted Australia's first radio show about videogames, Zed Games . He's written for Rock Paper Shotgun , The Big Issue, GamesRadar , Zam , Glixel , Five Out of Ten Magazine , and Playboy.com , whose cheques with the bunny logo made for fun conversations at the bank. Jody's first article for PC Gamer was about the audio of Alien Isolation , published in 2015, and since then he's written about why Silent Hill belongs on PC , why Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale is the best fantasy shopkeeper tycoon game , and how weird Lost Ark can get . Jody edited PC Gamer Indie from 2017 to 2018, and he eventually lived up to his promise to play every Warhammer videogame.

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essay about playing computer games

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Gaming on your laptop didn’t used to be a serious option outside of very simple games. Newer laptops have a lot more power inside for gaming, but can’t quite keep up with the latest and greatest of games on PC and consoles. Plus, you typically are restricted to a keyboard and touchpad that makes more intensive games uncomfortable or too difficult to enjoy. Since you won’t always have access to a separate mouse or standard controller, you might need some games that still play great on your laptop without needing any accessories.

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Despite looking like a mobile ripoff of Castlevania, Vampire Survivors ended up being one of our favorite games of 2021. Since then, this cheap and content-packed game has only gotten larger and more engrossing. The best part is, of course, how easy it is to control. Every character has their own unique ability and attacks, plus you pick up a range of tools as you play, and yet you never need more than one hand on the keyboard to move your character around thanks to the auto-attack nature of the game. All you need to worry about is positioning and collecting all those gems and items to power yourself up. Even when the game gets completely flooded with enemies and particles, the simple pixel graphics make sure it won’t get too taxing even for your laptop.

The Binding of Isaac: Repentance

This will be the last roguelike on the list, but we couldn’t leave off the final version of the game that reinvented the genre for the modern era. The Binding of Isaac: Repentance represents over a decade of iteration and support for not only one of the first roguelikes to hit it big but one of the first indies as well. Its first form was a flash game that controlled only using the keyboard, and that remains up into the latest version. All you need is your four directional movement and attack buttons, plus another few for abilities and items. Speaking of items and abilities, there are thousands of them in this version that all interact with each other to ensure no two runs are ever the same, though it can be a little frustrating not knowing if an item will end up being terrible until you pick it up and find out.

Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight looks like a long-lost SNES game and plays just as good as you remember those classic games. It takes inspiration from Mega Man and DuckTales primarily, but if you grew up on the 16-bit console, you will find tons of callbacks and homages to other influential games of that generation. You take control of the unlikely shovel-based hero on a quest to save your lost partner Shield Knight by adventuring through multiple stages to topple the evil Order of No Quarter. This was already a fantastic game when it launched, but Yacht Club kept supporting it with entirely new campaigns where you play as new characters that make it more than a complete package. As a platformer, you don’t need anything but a keyboard to have a blast in this awesome adventure with a killer soundtrack.

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If you're trying to get away from your screen, such as by reading a book or playing board games, one great alternative is to build Lego. One of the most popular brands on the planet with millions upon millions of new bricks made every year, there is seemingly a Lego set for pretty much anything. Whether you love the Marvel universe and want to build the Infinity Gauntlet or are really into cars and want to build a Lamborghini, there's very likely a set out there for you. To that end, we've gone out and collected some of our favorite Lego deals across various categories, although if you don't find what you're looking for, you could check out some of these great board game deals as well.

Today's Best Lego Marvel Deals

PlayStation Plus users will be losing out on 12 games in June, and one of them is a must-play if you're a fan of open-world action adventures from 2013.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is widely considered to be one of the most iconic games all time, and it's definitely the best Grand Theft Auto game. It's also easy to play on nearly any platform (minus Nintendo Switch, of course). It even received a next-gen upgrade for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2022. That said, if you have a PlayStation Plus subscription and wanted to play it at some point -- or just wanted to get a session or two in before Grand Theft Auto 6 -- you'll have until June 12 to do so.

Playing video games for hours can be pretty brutal to your back and body, especially if you're an older gamer; as such, buying yourself a purpose-made chair can certainly help keep you healthier. While gaming chairs won't compete with chairs that are made specifically to take your health into account, they do offer better padding and a more hugging feeling than you'd find with your average low-end office chair. To that end, we've gone out and found some of our favorite gaming chair deals out there to make your life a little bit easier.

That said, if you're still in the shopping phase and haven't fully built your gaming setup yet, be sure to check out these gaming PC deals, gaming monitor deals, and gaming console deals to deck yourself out with the best stuff. Homall Massage Gaming Chair -- $80, was $170

How-To Geek

10 popular google doodle games you can play right now.

Play them all!

Quick Links

#1: baseball, #2: pac-man, #3: quick, draw, #4: the scoville game, #5: basketball, #6: halloween, #7: garden gnome, #8: coding rabbit, #9: cricket, #10: rubik's cube.

Google keeps its main search page fresh with fun doodles that change every couple of days. Occasionally, the doodle is an actual game that you can play. These games are archived and can be played after their time on the homepage has passed. They're perfect for passing the time without needing to download anything.

There have been several sports-based doodle games, but the one we spent the most time on was Baseball from the 2019 4th of July.

Everyone knows Pac-Man. It's a classic for a reason. The Doodle version is just as fun as always.

Quick, Draw! was so popular that it got its own website. You get 20 seconds to draw something, and then Google's neural network tries to guess what it is.

The Scoville Game is all about trying to defeat spicy peppers with ice cream. You learn about the Scoville Scale in the process.

This is another classic sports game. See how many shots you can make in 24 seconds.

This fun game from Halloween 2016 has you swiping a wand around as a cat to defeat ghosts.

The goal of the Garden Gnome game is to launch a gnome as far as you can with a catapult.

Coding Rabbit is a great game to introduce your kids to coding. The goal is to use basic, block-based coding concepts to help a rabbit to a carrot.

Play Cricket with virtual crickets! Just like the baseball game, this one is super addictive.

Lastly, there's the classic Rubik's Cube. See how quickly you can solve the puzzle. Good luck, and have fun!

You can find even more Doodle Games on Google's Doodle website . Almost all of these games can be played in just a few minutes, and you only need a web browser to play them.

How to play Wuthering Waves on PC, Steam Deck, and ROG Ally

Check out the new RPG on PC, ROG Ally, and Steam Deck.

Wuthering Waves: Winged villain.

  • Platforms & PC requirements
  • How to play on PC & ROG Ally
  • How to play on Steam Deck
  • Why isn't the game working?

- Platforms and PC requirements - How to play on PC & ROG Ally - How to play on Steam Deck - Why isn't Wuthering Waves working?

A brand new anime RPG set in a fantastical world has joined the likes of miHoYo's popular Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail — this time in the form of Wuthering Waves . However, it seems that many people are experiencing issues when trying to launch the game. 

There's a reason why the game won't launch on Epic Games Store or gets stuck during the download process when downloading the file directly. Not to worry. I'll explain what the issue is and what you need to do to play Wuthering Waves. While I'm at it, I'll go over PC system requirements as well. 

Wuthering Waves: Platforms and PC system requirements

What platforms is wuthering waves open-world rpg on.

This role-playing game from Guangzhou Kuro Technology Co., Ltd., and Kuro Game Studio is available on Microsoft Windows PCs, Android, and iOS.

Is Wuthering Waves on Steam?

No. In order to play Wuthering Waves on PC, players must download the free game at Epic Games Store.

Is Wuthering Waves free to play?

Yes. There are in-game purchases, but players can download and play the game for free. 

Wuthering Waves PC Minimum system requirements

Of course, you need to make sure that your computer is powerful enough to handle Wuthering Waves. Here are the minimum system requirements, which aren't very demanding by modern game standards. 

  • OS version: Windows 10 64bit or Windows 11 64bit
  • CPU: intel i5 (9th Gen) / Ryzen 2700
  • Memory: 16GB
  • GPU: GTX 1060 / RX 570
  • Storage: 30GB

Wuthering Waves PC Recommended system requirements

Even the recommended Wuthering Waves specs aren't that intense. Here are the system requirements you'll need to have to play the game as it was intended. 

  • CPU: intel i7 (9th Gen) / Ryzen 3700
  • Memory: 16GB and above
  • GPU: GTX 2060 / RX 5700XT and above
  • Storage: 30GB and above

Can I play Wuthering Waves on ROG Ally and Steam Deck?

Considering that Wuthering Waves doesn't have the most strenuous system requirements, it looks like it could run well enough on ROG Ally and Steam Deck. However, game performance will also depend on how the company built the game and what settings options are available. Additionally, Wuthering Waves isn't on Steam, so you'll need to find means outside of the Steam store to access Wuthering Waves on Steam Deck. 

How to play Wuthering Waves on PC and ROG Ally

Wuthering Waves: Jiyan dragon.

Since the ROG Ally runs Windows 11, it is basically a gaming laptop but in gaming handheld form. That means that the steps for downloading the game on both PC and ROG Ally are the same. 

You can access Wuthering Waves either directly through a download file or via Epic Games Store. Here's how to do both of those things: 

Directly download Wuthering Waves for Windows

Wuthering Wave Install window.

Here's the direct link for downloading the Windows version. Simply click the link and then work on the installation process: 

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  • Download directly for Microsoft Windows PCs .
  • Go into your downloads and double-click on WutheringWaves-overseas-setup-1.5.1.0
  • A windows will pop up. Read the license agreement and if you're ok with it, check the box and then click Install . 
  • Next click Start . 
  • A new window will open. Click Download in the bottom right corner. 
  • Now wait for the game to download . 
  • Once it downloads, click the game icon to launch Wuthering Waves . 

Download Wuthering Waves from Epic Game Store

Accept the End User Licence Agreement on Epic Games Store.

  • Go to the Wuthering Waves page at Epic Games Store .
  • Click Get . 
  • L ogin or create an account if you don't have one already. 
  • Read the End User License Agreement. If you're ok with what it says, check the box at the bottom and then click Accept . 
  • A new window will open. Click View in Library .
  • Next, click on the game icon to install Wuthering Waves .
  • Select Yes to allow Epic Games Store to make changes to your computer.
  • Once it's ready, double-click on the game icon in your library to launch Wuthering Waves . 

What to do if Wuthering Waves won't download

It is possible this problem is happening because you are attempting to play the game before it's technically scheduled to launch in your region. If that's the case, you'll need to try again when the game has launched in your area. 

If we learn of other downloading complications and their fixes, we'll update this section with more info. 

How to play Wuthering Waves on Steam Deck

Wuthering Waves: Girl playing game.

Since Wuthering Waves isn't on Steam, you cannot play it via the usual Steam Deck library. There are a few ways around this issue, but one option is to install Windows on Steam Deck and then follow the PC steps previously listed.

Why is Wuthering Waves not working?

Wuthering Waves downloading.

Why is Wuthering Waves on Epic Games not launching?

Wuthering Waves technically launches on either May 22 or May 23 depending on where you live. If you attempt to play the game before it's actually set to launch in your area, then it won't download all the way. 

What is Wuthering Waves release date and what time does it launch?

Wuthering Waves launches on May 22 or May 23 depending on your region: North America: May 22, 2024 at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET United Kingdom: May 23, 2024 at 3 a.m. BST Europe: May 23, 2024 at 4 a.m. CEST Australia: May 23 at 12 p.m. AEST

Don't forget to get free in-game goodies! To get help with that check out our Wuthinger Waves code guide . 

Now dive into Wuthering Waves

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It looks very much like Wuthering Waves takes after the likes of the fantasy Genshin Impact RPG and the sci-fi-focused Honkai: Star Rail. Based on what we've seen so far, it looks like there are plenty of puzzles to solve, enemies to fight, and an open-world to explore. But you'll need to wait until the game launches in your area before the installation process will complete. 

Additionally, if you're playing on PC then you'll need to make sure that your rig can handle Wuthering Waves. Based on the specs, it seems like ROG Ally, Steam Deck, and other gaming handhelds should handle it just fine. But since Wuthering Waves isn't on Steam, you'll need to go through some extra steps to make it accessible on Valve's handheld. 

Wuthering Waves

Wuthering Waves

You are the Rover, a person with special abilities. You've found yourself in a strange land that's filled with monsters. Thankfully, you're command of weaponry and special attacks helps you navigate the open-world with ease. 

Free download at: Epic Game Store | Direct download

Self-professed gaming geek, Rebecca Spear, is one of Windows Central's editors and reviewers with a focus on gaming handhelds, PC gaming, and laptops. When she isn't checking out the latest games on Xbox Game Pass, PC, ROG Ally, or Steam Deck; she can be found digital drawing with a Wacom tablet. She's written thousands of articles with everything from editorials, reviews, previews, features, previews, and hardware reviews over the last few years. If you need information about anything gaming-related, her articles can help you out. She also loves testing game accessories and any new tech on the market. You can follow her @rrspear on X (formerly Twitter).

  • fdruid We already have Genshin Impact and frankly this doesn't look any better than it. And I say this, Genshin is an incredible game. Reply
  • xzorax It's not available on ps4 or ps5 so take that out misleading Reply
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Automatic Super Resolution

Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) seamlessly integrates with Windows on a Copilot+ PC with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon® X processor to automatically enhance a set of existing games by default, and boosts frame rates while maintaining detailed visuals. Auto SR functions by automatically lowering the game's rendering resolution to increase framerate, then employs sophisticated AI technology to provide enhanced high-definition visuals. This results in a smoother, more detailed gaming experience. 

Auto SR is applied by default to a set of games verified by Microsoft. Examples of enhanced games include Borderlands 3, God of War, The Witcher 3, and more.

Note:  : For an evolving list of games that work with Auto SR, visit www.worksonwoa.com , a third-party open-source site that Microsoft has contributed compatibility data to.

To change the Auto SR default setting, go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics and toggle Automatic super resolution under Default settings.

Auto SR default setting

When you start a game that supports Auto SR, you see a notification confirming that Auto SR is active.

Auto SR is on notification

System requirements

Your device must meet the following requirements for Auto SR: 

A  Copilot+ PC with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon® X processor with Hexagon NPU and an  integrated GPU.

Windows 11, version 24H2 or later.

Latest graphics and neural processor drivers. To manually check for updates, go to  Start > Settings > Windows Update , then select  Check for updates .

A display resolution of 1080p or greater.

Game requirements

Auto SR is supported in most games that run on:

DirectX 11 or DirectX 12

Emulated x64 or Arm64 native platforms.

Important:  DirectX 11/12 games using certain formats (such as 10-bit formats), x86-only games and other graphics runtimes including DirectX 9, Vulkan, OpenGL are not supported.

Turn on Auto SR for additional games

You can extend Auto SR to games that are not enhanced by default, by opting-in games through the Windows Graphics Settings or in-game, on a per-game basis.

Important:  Games opted-in to Auto SR do not follow the default Automatic super resolution setting. The custom Auto SR setting for these games takes precedence and must be turned on or off per-game.

To turn on Auto SR for a game:

Go to System > Display > Graphics > Custom settings for applications and find the game (or add the game’s .exe file) for which you want to turn on Auto SR.

Select the game and then select one of these:

On : This setting automatically adjusts the resolution to enhance the framerate of your game without user intervention for a seamless experience. However, this setting may extend the altered resolution to other applications if you switch away from the game using Alt + Tab. It may also cause unsupported resolutions to disappear from internal game settings menus to make it easier to select an Auto SR supported mode.

Auto SR per-app setting

Adjust the game resolution to an Auto SR-compatible resolution which is under 900 lines, such as 1280x800. The available resolutions will depend on your PC’s display configuration.

If the game is configured to use fullscreen (sometimes called exclusive fullscreen) mode, change the in-game resolution setting to an Auto SR-compatible resolution.

If the game is configured to use borderless window full screen, either switch to exclusive fullscreen or go to Settings  > System > Display and change the desktop display resolution to an Auto SR-compatible resolution before launching the game.

To turn off Auto SR for a game:

Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Custom options for applications and find the game for which you want to turn off Auto SR.

Select Off from the Automatic Super Resolution  dropdown menu.

Microsoft’s commitment to responsible AI and Privacy  

Microsoft has been working to advance AI responsibly since 2017, when we first defined our AI principles and later operationalized our approach through our Responsible AI Standard. Privacy and security are principles as we develop and deploy AI systems. We work to help our customers use our AI products responsibly, sharing our learnings, and building trust-based partnerships. For more about our responsible AI efforts, the principles that guide us, and the tooling and capabilities we've created to assure that we develop AI technology responsibly, see Responsible AI .

All processing to enhance game visuals occurs on-device using the integrated GPU and Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Graphics and game details never leave your device and are not shared to the cloud or with Microsoft. For more information, review the Microsoft privacy statement .

We want to hear from you!

If there's something you like, and especially if there's something you don't like about Auto SR you can submit feedback to Microsoft. Launch Feedback Hub , and select Report a problem or Suggest a feature , provide details about your feedback and include the words Auto SR in the summary, then select Gaming and Xbox > Game Performance category. If possible, select Recreate my problem in Add more details step, then select Submit !

Frequently asked questions

How do i know if auto sr is working .

If you have Windows notifications enabled, you will see an Auto SR is on  notification when you launch an applicable game.

Warning:  Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. For added protection,  back up the registry  before attempting to modify it.

You can also activate a constant status indicator which appears as a green dot in the upper left of the screen to indicate Auto SR is enabled. To do so, add the AutoSRConfig registry key by running the following command from a Command prompt running as Administrator:

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\DirectX\UserGpuPreferences /v AutoSRConfig /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Tip:  If the status indicator is any other color or not visible, then Auto SR is not working.

To remove the indicator, delete the registry key using this command:

reg delete HKCU\Software\Microsoft\DirectX\UserGpuPreferences /v AutoSRConfig /f

Why isn't Auto SR automatically enhancing my game?

Auto SR is on by default for a verified list of games . If Auto SR is not working for a game, check the following:

Game resolution:  Ensure the game is using an Auto SR-compatible resolution which is under 900 lines, such as 1280x800. The available resolutions will depend on your PC’s display configuration.

If the game is configured to use borderless window full screen, either switch to exclusive fullscreen or go to Settings  > System > Display and  change the desktop display resolution to an Auto SR-compatible resolution before launching the game.

Per-app settings: If you have turned on Auto SR specifically for a game, it overrides the global default settings. Check the per-app setting to ensure Auto SR is turned on.  Additionally, if you selected On (keep current desktop resolution)  in the per-app setting, change this to On  to allow Auto SR to apply automatically.

What do I do if Auto SR isn't working for a game I opted-in?

For games that don't automatically support Auto SR, you can enable Auto SR for your game .

Check if detailed instructions specific to your game exist on www.worksonwoa.com and follow them closely.

Does Auto SR work with games that support HDR?

Auto SR does not support HDR content. To utilize HDR in games that support it, you must turn off Auto SR.

I don't want my display resolution to change when I launch my game. Can I change that? 

Yes, this is enabled by default for some games but can be modified in per app setting for the game. To disable the resolution change, switch the setting to On (keep current display resolution) .

Why do text or UI elements sometimes not look ideal when Auto SR is enabled?

Auto SR starts with a game vertical rendering resolution that is 800 +/- 100 lines. Some games might have challenges rendering fine text or UI elements at this low resolution. Microsoft has a verified list of games that avoid these types of problems. If you feel the quality loss is detrimental, you may be able to find an alternate resolution up to 900 lines (such as 768p vs 720p) that works better, or you can disable Auto SR in Windows settings.

Why do I see a weird rendering effect when Auto SR is enabled?

Auto SR AI model has been trained on a wide range of games and game styles. However, there may be times when it is not perfect in a particular rendering situation. Microsoft has a verified list of games that look great, and we find the model does well on most games.  Of course, if you find a game for which you do not like Auto SR, you can submit feedback about the game or disable it in the Windows settings.

How does Auto SR interact with other in-game super scaling technologies? 

Auto SR is integrated into the Windows operating system and display pipeline, functioning independently of the game's own scaling technologies. While enabling or disabling in-game scaling can impact quality or frame rate, the specific results vary based on the game, settings, and your system.

Why am I getting low-resolution screen captures?

Capture tools like Gamebar, Snipping Tool, and others are based on capturing the contents of a window. Due to how Auto SR integrates with your PC display, these capture tools will generally not capture the Auto SR image that you see on the screen because it is larger than the game’s window.

Can I turn on Auto SR for x64 Windows games?

Yes, Auto SR enhances a select group of emulated Windows x64 games on ARM devices and also supports native ARM games.

Where can I purchase games that are compatible with Auto SR?

Visit www.worksonwoa.com to find games that are compatible with Auto SR. Auto SR can enhance games from any storefront. If a game isn't available in one store, check other stores.

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